System for sampling tissue

ABSTRACT

It is disclosed a system (1) for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal including: —a male component (2) including an engagement profile (2c) and a detachable sample collecting part (2b) with a cutting edge (2a); —a female component including a hole (4b) and retaining means (4a) for retaining the engagement profile (2c) of the male component (2), once the engagement profile (2c) has passed the hole (4b); —a tissue sample container (3) including an opening (3b) arranged below the hole (4b) of the female component (4b), for receiving the sample collecting part (2b) and the tissue sampled, the opening (3b) being closed by a sealed membrane or a cover (3d). The tissue sample container (3) includes a protrusion (3c) arranged at least in part in the hole (4b) of the female component (4).

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a system for sampling tissue from anear of an animal and to tag the animal, at sampling. More particularly,the invention relates to a system of the type cited above, including amale component, a female component and a tissue sample container.

The present invention also relates to a method to sample tissue from anear of an animal.

PRIOR ART

Systems for sampling tissue from an ear of an animal are known.

These systems including a male component, a female component and atissue sample container coupled to the female component.

To sample the tissue, the female component is put in contact with a sideof the ear and a tip of the male component, having a cutting edge and acollecting part, is pushed against the ear, from the other side thereof,to cut a sample of the ear and to enter in a hole of the femalecomponent, where the male component is finally locked. While the malecomponent remains attached to the female component, tagging andidentifying the animal, the tip enters the tissue sample container, andmay be detached from the female component, together with the tissuesample container, for delivery to laboratory.

These systems are much appreciated because, in one single operation, theanimal is tagged and the tissue sample is obtained. However, they alsohave some drawbacks, especially due to the fact that the tissue samplemay be damaged or lost during the operation, for instance when calves orother animals having thin ear's skins are sampled. Lost of the sample orinsufficient quantity of tissue sample may however occur with any kindof animal, with the known system.

Indeed, the sample may fall outside the collecting part after cut. Thismay occur immediately after the cut, since the sample moves outside aperipheral edge of the cutting edge arranged on top of the collectingpart, therefore never entering the collecting part. In other cases, thesample actually enters the collecting part after the cut butsubsequently exits therefrom, due to inappropriate movements of the tipalong the path towards the tissue sample container.

Often, the operator is not aware of a failure in collecting the tissuesample. Indeed, also when the tissue is lost during sampling, the tissuesample container is sealed by the tip of the male component which, atleast in part, hides the interior of the container. Therefore, theoperator may believe that sampling have occurred properly although,actually, no tissue sample is stored inside the container.

All these problems affects the daily practise of operators responsiblefor tagging and sampling, to the extent that they must pay particularcare and attention to avoid losing or damaging the sample. Also with alldue care, it is however not easy (if not impossible) to visually followsthe sample along the path from where it is initially cut from theanimal's ear to the tissue sample container, especially at the interfacebetween the female component and the tissue sample container.

In the worst cases, the result may be that the operator believes to havecorrectly accomplished sampling but, actually, no sample has been takenin the container or a damaged sample is hidden inside the tip, in thecontainer.

Failures in collecting the tissue sample as described above happen withall types of known system for sampling tissue, including the ones havinga female component not provided with a hole for the tip of the malecomponent but with a continuous surface, adapted to support the animal'sear at sampling. In particular, such a female component may be adoptedin an attempt to avoid breaking tissue of thin ears but it is completelyuseless to prevent the problem at the base of the present invention, toimprove trust-ability of sampling, to avoid losing the sample tissue andto reduce checks of the operator.

The problem at the base of the present invention is that of providing asystem for sampling tissue of an animal which is more reliable, easy tobe used and that indicates the presence of the tissue inside thecontainer, overcoming all the problems that presently affect the priorart system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The idea of solution at the base of the present invention is to providea system for sampling a tissue from an animal's ear including means toguide the sample into a collecting part, to keep the sample inside thecollecting part, preventing any lost and to indicate the presence of thetissue inside the container, once sampling is made.

More particularly, the idea of solution is to provide the means to guidethe sample as a protrusion, preferably coupled to the tissue samplecontainer, arranged in a hole of a female component and adapted tocontact and guide the tissue of the animal from before its cut.

For instance, the protrusion contacts the tissue of the animal when thefemale component is put in contact with a side of the ear of the animal,projecting outside the hole of the female component. The tip of a malecomponent, including a sample collecting part with a cutting edge, isadapted to receive, a portion of the (ear) tissue of the animal which,on the other side of the ear, is contacted by the protrusion, alsobefore the cut of the sample. The sample collecting part is adapted toreceive also the protrusion, together with the sample, when the sampleis cut from the ear, keeping the sample safely inside the tip of themale component, all along its way to the tissue sample container.

Accordingly, the protrusion guides the tissue at any stage of thetagging and sampling process, allowing an appropriate shape change ofthe ear, also in young calves, meaning that any possible lost or damageof the tissue is avoided, forcing the tissue to immediately enter in thesample collecting part, beginning from before the cut, and thenremaining reliably inside it also after the cut.

For instance, the protrusion may be in a shape of a pin and the samplecollecting part may be in the shape of a cylinder with opening throughwhich the pin enters, substantially surrounded by the tissue, this lastremaining safely arranged between the external surface of the pin andthe internal surface of the cylinder, from the beginning of the samplingoperation.

Moreover, the protrusion is adapted to be broken by a passage of the tipinside the tissue sample container, and to follow the tissue sample andthe sample collecting part, safely keeping the sample between theprotrusion and the side of the sample collecting part, inside the tissuesample container, remaining in it as an evidence of a correct sampling.

Accordingly, the operator may ascertain the presence of a sample in thetissue sample container by easily checking the presence of theprotrusion inside it. At that stage, while the male component remainsattached to the female component, as a tag of the animal, the tip is inthe tissue sample container, and may be detached from the femalecomponent, together with the tissue sample container.

According to the solution idea given above, the technical problem issolved by a system for sampling tissue from an ear of an animalincluding:

a male component including an engagement profile and a detachable samplecollecting part with a cutting edge;

a female component including a hole and retaining means for retainingthe engagement profile of the male component, once the engagementprofile has passed the hole;

a tissue sample container including an opening arranged below the holeof the female component, for receiving the sample collecting part andthe tissue sampled, the opening being closed by a sealed membrane or acover; characterized by the fact that

the tissue sample container includes a protrusion arranged at least inpart in the hole of the female component.

Advantageously, the protrusion is arranged in the hole to guide thetissue of the animal during the entire sampling process, from punchingthe ear to collecting the sample tissue in the tissue sample container,preventing the sample tissue to fall out from the sample collectingpart, before closure of the tissue sample container. This isparticularly advantageous when young animals are sampled since theirskin is very thin and, if excessively bent, may fail apart from thesample collecting part. The protrusion is designed to remain into thetissue sample container as indicator of presence of the tissue sampleinside the sample collecting part, after sampling.

In an aspect of the invention, the tissue sample container includessupport means, arranged above the sealed membrane or cover of the tissuesample container for supporting the protrusion, the support means areadapted to be cut by the cutting edge of the male tip.

In one of the possible embodiments according to the present invention, abase of the sample collecting part includes a seat for an upper portionof the protrusion, the seat being adapted to keep the protrusion in thesample collecting part.

The protrusion is visible inside the tissue sample container forindicating presence of a tissue sample in the sample container.Preferably, the protrusion has a colour different from a colour of thetissue sample container and at least one of a peripheral edge, a bottomor a sealed membrane or cover of the tissue sample container istransparent.

In one aspect of the invention, the support means includes a ring havingat least one radial portion, preferably four radial portions connectedat the centre of the ring, supporting the protrusion at the middle ofthe ring.

The radial portion preferably includes at least one weakening line.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ring includes fasteningmeans projecting towards the opening of the tissue sample container, andthe detachable sample collecting part comprises an engagement profileadapted to be blocked by the fastening means. In another embodiment, thefastening means in the tissue sample container are provided separatelyfrom the ring.

Preferably, the upper portion of the protrusion is arranged at anopening of the hole through which the male component, more particularlythe tip of the component including the sample collecting part, entersthe hole.

For instance, the protrusion has a cylindrical shape and a diameter ofthe protrusion is between 1:6 and 1:2 of a diameter of the hole. Stillas an example, the sample collecting part may have cylindrical shape.

The tissues sample container preferably includes a sample conservingagent and a cover or membrane closing the opening of the tissues samplecontainer, wherein the cover or membrane is adapted to be broken by thecutting edge.

The tissues sample container may also include locking means to lock thefemale component before sampling, preferably an annular groove havingshape coupling with an annular projection around the thorough hole. Thelocking means are releasable for detaching the counter plate from thetissue sample container, after sampling.

The tissues sample container, the female component and the malecomponent preferably comprise a respective flag, includingidentification information.

The problem at the base of the present invention is also solved by amethod according to the present invention including the followingphases:

contacting a side of an ear to be sampled with a female component havinga hole, the female component being attached to a removable tissue samplecontainer, wherein a protrusion, preferably associated to the tissuesample container, protrudes from the hole, to contact the ear of theanimal from said side of the ear;

coupling a male component to the female component by positioning asample collecting part having a cutting edge, on the opposite side ofthe ear of the animal, in a position where the protrusion may enter thesample container part, guiding the tissue of the animal into the samplecollecting part beginning from before the cut;

pushing the male component towards the female component to cut thetissue sample from the ear, wherein the protrusion keep forcing thesample into the sample collecting part during said step of pushing;

entering the sample collecting part with the sampled tissue into thetissue sample container.

Further advantages and features of the system for sampling a tissue ofan ear animal according to the present invention will be apparent from aembodiment given with reference to the annexed drawing only forexemplificative and not limitative purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the system for sampling a tissue of ananimal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tissue sample container of the systemfor sampling a tissue according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a female component of the system forsampling a tissue according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tissue sample container coupled tothe female component of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a section view of a male component, the female component andthe tissue sample container of the system for sampling a tissueaccording to FIG. 1, before coupling the male component with the femalecomponent.

FIG. 6 is a section view of the tissue sample container of the FIG. 2,after insertion of a sample collecting part 2 b of the male component ofFIG. 5 into the tissue sample container.

FIG. 7 is a section view of the male component, the female component andthe tissue sample container of the system for sampling a tissueaccording to FIG. 1, with detached parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the annexed drawing, a system for sampling tissue froman animal's ear according to the present invention is schematicallyrepresented and indicated with reference number 1.

To sample the tissue from the animal's ear, a female component 4 is putin contact with a side of the ear and a male component 2, having acutting edge 2 a and a sample collecting part 2 b, is pushed against theear, from the other side thereof, to cut a sample of the ear and toenter in a hole 4 b of the female component 4, where the male component2 is finally locked, tagging the animal.

The sample collecting part 2 b is adapted to enter a tissue samplecontainer 3, attached to the female component 4 on the side thereofwhich is not in contact with the animal's ear, and may be detached fromthe female component 4, together with the tissue sample container. Forinstance, the tissues sample container 3 includes locking means 3 i tolock the female component 4, preferably an annular groove 3 i havingshape coupling with an annular projection 4 c around the thorough hole 4b; the locking means 3 i are releasable for detaching the femalecomponent 4 from the tissue sample container 3. Of course, nothingprevents using a different removable coupling between the femalecomponent and the tissue sample container.

The male component 2 includes an engagement profile 2 c, adapted toengage the female component and to remain attached thereto for taggingthe animal. In this respect, the female component 4 includes retainingmeans 4 a for retaining the engagement profile 2 c of the male component2, once the engagement profile 2 c has passed the hole 4 b.

The sample collecting part 2 b is detachable from the male component 2below the engagement profile 2 c, so as to remain in the tissue samplecontainer 3, after sampling, when the tissues sample container 3 isdetached from the female component 4.

The tissue sample container 3 including an opening 3 b arranged belowthe hole 4 b of the female component 4 b (when the female component 4 isattached to the tissue sample container 3), for receiving the samplecollecting part 2 b and the tissue sampled. The opening 3 b is closed bya sealed membrane or a cover 3 d. Preferably, the tissues samplecontainer 3 includes a sample conserving agent and a cover or membrane 3h closing the opening 3 b of the tissues sample container 3, wherein thecutting edge 2 a are adapted to cut also the cover or membrane 3 d.

Preferably, the tissues sample container 3, the female component 4 andthe male component 2 comprise a respective flag, including visualidentification information and or RFID means.

According to the present invention, the tissue sample container 3includes a protrusion 3 c, preferably a pin, arranged at least in partin the hole 4 b of the female component 4 (when the female component 4is attached to the tissue sample container 3), preferably protrudingfurther than a surface of the female component 4 adapted to contact theanimal's ear. Nothing prevents that the protrusion 3 c does not protrudefurther than the surface of the female component 4, for instanceremaining in the thickness of the female component 4, inside the hole 4b (FIG. 5).

In the embodiment given with reference to the drawings, the protrusion 3c is at the centre of the hole 4 b and it has the form of a cylindricalpin 3 c. However, nothing prevents that, for instance, the pin hasdifferent cross section (triangular section, quadrangular section, . . .) or that the pin is not at the centre of the hole 4 b, for instancethat more than one pin are arranged around the centre of the hole 4 b.

The sample collecting part 2 b is adapted to inserted in the hole 4 b,on the protrusion 3 c. In use, at the beginning of the samplingoperation, the animal's ear is put in contact with a surface of thefemale 4. In the area of the hole 4 b, the animal's ear is not contactedby the surface of the female 4, and it is arranged between the cuttingedge 2 a and the protrusion 3 c.

When the male component 2 is pushed towards the female component 4(using a tool for tagging, for instance having an arm attached to thefemale component and another arm to the male component), the portion ofthe animal's ear in the area of the hole 4 b is driven inside the samplecollecting part 2 b by the protrusion 3 c, in particular by an upperportion 33 c thereof. At the initial stage of tagging, when the malecomponent and the female component start approaching one to the other,the animal's ear may be not still cut. The ear is cut at a certainposition along the way of the sample collecting part 2 b towards thetissue sample container 3, depending of the features (thickness,flexibility, age, . . . ) of the animal's ear.

However, according to the present invention, at any position in whichthe animal's ear is cut, the corresponding tissue sample, is safelystocked inside the sample collecting part 2 b, substantially between theprotrusion 3 c and the inner surface 22 a of the sample collecting part2 b. Preferably, a space between the inner surface 22 a of the samplecollecting part 2 b and the protrusion 3 c is between 1 mm and 5 mm, thesize being selected by design, depending of the features of the animalto be sampled. In one embodiment of the invention, the protrusion 3 chas a cylindrical shape and a diameter of the protrusion 3 c is between1:6 and 1:2 of a diameter of the hole 4 b.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the protrusion 3 c is supported bysupport means 3 a associated to the tissue sample container 3, forinstance arranged above the sealed membrane or cover 3 d of the tissuesample container 3. The cutting edge 2 a of the male component 2 isadapted to cut also the support means 3 a. Substantially, once thesupport means 3 a are cut in the area of the cutting edge 2 a, theprotrusion 3 c and a portion of the support means 3 a remained attachedto it after cut enter the sample collecting part 2 b.

Preferably, a base 22 b of the sample collecting part 2 b, opposite tothe opening where the cutting edge 2 c is arranged, includes a seat foran upper portion 33 c of the protrusion 3 c. The seat keeps theprotrusion 3 c centred in the sample collecting part 2 b, aftersampling.

Also the sealed membrane 3 d is adapted to be broken by the cutting edge2 a, when the sample collecting part 2 b enters the housing 3 dh of thetissue sample container 3. The protrusion 3 c is visible in the housing3 dh, for indicating presence of the tissue sample in the samplecontainer 3. In this respect, the protrusion 3 c has a colour differentfrom a colour of the tissue sample container 3 and at least one of aperipheral edge 3 l, a bottom 3 m or the sealed membrane 3 d of thetissue sample container 3 is transparent, to allow clear visibility ofthe protrusion. The operator may easily derive the presence of thesample and assume than an appropriate sampling has been executed bychecking presence of the protrusion 3 c in the hosing 3 dh, being such apresence a sure sign of presence of the tissue sample. Just in absenceof the protrusion, the sample may have been lost.

In one preferred embodiment, depicted in FIG. 2, the support means 3 aincludes a ring 3 a having at least one radial portion 3 e, preferablyfour radial portions connected at the centre of the ring 3 a, supportingthe protrusion 3 c at the middle of the ring 3 a. The radial portion 3 eincludes at least one weakening line 3 f.

The ring 3 a may be attached to the top of the housing 3 dh by a plasticmember, preferably thermo moulded over a peripheral flange of the ring 3a and the housing 3 dh. The plastic member may form the flag for visualidentification of the tissue sample container 3.

When the sample collecting part 2 b enters the housing 3 dh, it forms aplug for the housing 3 dh, at the top of the tissues sample container 3,to protect the tissue sample inside it. In this respect, it is providedthat the ring 3 a includes fastening means 3 g projecting towards theopening 3 b of the tissue sample container 3 (i.e. towards the housing 3dh), and that the detachable sample collecting part 2 b comprises anengagement profile 2 d adapted to be blocked by the fastening means 3 g.

Once the engagement profile 2 d is blocked by the fastening means 3 g,the tissues sample container may be pulled away from the femalecomponent, for detachment, this resulting in the end with the detachmentof the sample collecting part 2 b from the remaining portion of the malecomponent from.

Several advantages derives from the structure and the use of the systemfor sampling according to the present invention. Especially, the systemavoids loss of the sample at any stage of the procedure of sampling,since the ear of the animal in the area to be sampled is drivenimmediately by the protrusion in the sample collecting part, theprotrusion force the sample derived from the cut to stay into the samplecollecting part, and the protrusion move together with the samplecollecting part trough the hole of the female, up to the housing of thecontainer. In the housing, the protrusion is an indicator of asuccessful sampling and helps the operators to speed up controls andavoid repetition of samplings.

The system for sampling tissue of the present invention is applied tothe animal's ear by means of an ear tag applicator of the type hereafterbriefly disclosed. The applicator has two arms adapted to move between aclosed position, where one arm is closed on the other arm, and an openposition, when the arms are distanced apart. Two corresponding handles,preferably formed on the arms, extend beyond a point of rotation of thearms, and are closed, to close the applicator (the arms thereof), oropened to open it.

A first or upper arm includes a stem, preferably a metal stem, adaptedto be coupled with the male component, preferably with the metal steminside a cavity extending along an axis of the male component. A secondor bottom arm includes a seat for the female component and the tissuesample container, the seat being arranged with respect to the first armso that the hole of the female component, when placed in the seat,receives the tip of the male component, when placed in the first armwith the applicator closed.

We claim: 1.-14. (canceled)
 15. A system (1) for sampling tissue from anear of an animal including: a male component (2) including an engagementprofile (2 c) and a detachable sample collecting part (2 b) with acutting edge (2 a); a female component including a hole (4 b) andretaining means (4 a) for retaining the engagement profile (2 c) of themale component (2), once the engagement profile (2 c) has passed thehole (4 b); a tissue sample container (3) including an opening (3 b)arranged below the hole (4 b) of the female component (4 b) when thefemale component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), forreceiving the sample collecting part (2 b) and the tissue sampled, theopening (3 b) being closed by a sealed membrane or a cover (3 d); thetissue sample container (3) includes a protrusion (3 c) arranged atleast in part in the hole (4 b) of the female component (4) when thefemale component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3),wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes support means (3 a)arranged above the sealed membrane or cover (3 d), in that the supportmeans (3 a) include a ring (3 a) disposed below the female component (4)and facing said hole (4 b) when the female component (4) is attached tothe tissue sample container (3), the ring (3 a) having at least oneradial portion (3 e) supporting the protrusion (3 c) at the middle ofthe ring (3 a), and in that the support means (3 a) are adapted to becut by the cutting edge (2 a) of the male component (2).
 16. The system(1) according to claim 15, wherein a base (22 b) of the samplecollecting part (2 b) includes a seat for an upper portion (33 c) of theprotrusion (3 c), the seat being adapted to keep the protrusion (3 c) inthe sample collecting part (2 b), after sampling, said protrusion (3 c)being visible in the tissue sample container (3) for indicating presenceof a tissue sample in the sample container (3).
 17. The system (1)according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion (3 c) has a colourdifferent from a colour of the tissue sample container (3) and whereinat least one of a peripheral edge (3 l), a bottom (3 m) or sealedmembrane or a cover (3 d) of the tissue sample container (3) istransparent.
 18. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the ring(3 a) has four radial portions connected at the centre of the ring (3a), supporting the protrusion (3 c) at the middle of the ring (3 a). 19.The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the radial portion (3 e)includes at least one weakening line (3 f).
 20. The system (1) accordingto claim 18 wherein the ring (3 a) includes fastening means (3 g)projecting towards the opening (3 b) of the tissue sample container (3),and the detachable sample collecting part (2 b) comprises an engagementprofile (2 d) adapted to be blocked by the fastening means (3 g). 21.The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein an upper portion (33 c) ofthe protrusion (3 c) is arranged at an opening (43 b) of the hole (4 b).22. The system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the protrusion (3 c)has a cylindrical shape and a diameter of the protrusion (3 c) isbetween 1:6 and 1:2 of a diameter of the hole (4 b).
 23. The system (1)according to claim 15, wherein the tissue sample container (3) includesa sample conserving agent.
 24. The system (1) according to claim 15,wherein the tissue sample container (3) includes locking means (3 i) tolock the female component (4), preferably an annular groove (3 i) havingshape coupling with an annular projection (4 c) around the female hole(4 b), wherein the locking means (3 i) are releasable for detaching thecounter plate (4) from the tissue sample container (3).
 25. The system(1) according to claim 15, wherein the tissue sample container (3), thefemale component (4) and the male component (2) comprise a respectiveflag, including identification information.
 26. A method for sampling atissue from an ear of an animal using the system according to claim 15,comprising: contacting a side of an ear to be sampled with a femalecomponent (4) having a hole (4 b), the female component (4) beingattached to a removable tissue sample container (3), wherein aprotrusion (3 c), preferably associated to the tissue sample container,protrudes in or from the hole (4 b), to contact the ear of the animal;coupling a male component (2) to the female component (3) by positioninga sample collecting part (2 b) having a cutting edge (2 a), on theopposite side of the ear of the animal, in a position where theprotrusion (3 c) may enter the sample collecting part (2 b), guiding thetissue of the animal into the sample collecting part (2 b) from beforethe cut; pushing the male component (2) towards the female component (4)to cut the tissue sample from the ear, wherein the protrusion (3 c) keepforcing the sample into the sample collecting part (2 b) during saidstep of pushing; entering the sample collecting part (2 b) with thesampled tissue into the tissue sample container (3), wherein the tissuesample container (3) includes support means (3 a), arranged above thesealed membrane or cover (3 d) of the tissue sample container (3) andsupporting the protrusion (3 c), the support means (3 a) being cut bythe cutting edge (2 a) of the male component (2) so that the protrusion(3 c) enters the tissue sample container (3) with the sample collectingpart (2 b), wherein the support means (3 a) including a ring (3 a)disposed below the female component (4) facing the hole (4 b) when thefemale component (4) is attached to the tissue sample container (3), thering (3 a) having at least one radial portion (3 e) supporting theprotrusion (3 c) at the middle of the ring (3 a).